CUPERTINO, Calif. — Well done.

Deputies in California arrested two people last week after they allegedly stole more than $1,200 worth of meat from a Safeway supermarket in Cupertino, authorities said.

According to a news release posted on social media by the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office, the “rare case” occurred on Dec. 28. Two suspects allegedly stole more than $1,000 worth of rib eye steaks and other prime meats, the sheriff’s office said.

An alert employee at the supermarket witnessed what the sheriff’s office called a “meat heist” and described the thieves to deputies. The employee was also able to write down the license plate of the black Toyota Prius that was allegedly used as the getaway car, the sheriff’s office said.

The manager at the Safeway told authorities that the employee saw two men load large amounts of meat into bags and head for the exit doors, sheriff’s office spokesperson Brooks Jarosz told SFGate.com.

Authorities used the vehicle’s records to find the owner’s home address, arriving about an hour after the theft was reported, according to the news outlet.

“It’s not right. I mean that’s the type of thing that has to get passed on to the consumer, right?” shopper Jeanny Morejon told KTVU. “It’s not fair for the shoppers, it’s not fair for the business.”

A photograph on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page shows the meat that was recovered, along with mayonnaise, salt, olive oil and avocados.

Thanks to Deputy (Christopher) Velasco’s quick thinking, the suspects were caught at the home of the registered car with $1,200+ in stolen New Year’s meats!” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Both men were booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail. Jarosz said the men -- ages 39 and 34 -- were from San Jose and faced grand theft and conspiracy charges, SFGate.com reported.

“I’m kind of glad,” another shopper, Ross Bernstein, told KTVU. “There’s been a lot of theft lately. I even go in the store and see people steal stuff all the time.”

“Huge shoutout to the alert Safeway worker!” the sheriff’s office wrote. “The only thing well-done here is the teamwork!”

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